Before we can delve into the symbolism of dreams, we need to take a few moments to understand a bit more about the process of dreaming. Sure, the obvious answer is "you close your eyes, go to sleep and dream." Ah, but it's a wee bit more complicated than that! Even the act of sleeping is not by chance, but follows a definitive cycle that determines how and when you dream. That sounds as good a place as any to begin our journey..
Definition of Sleep:
By definition, sleep is:
the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored
This "suspension of consciousness" does not just magically happen. There is a certain, set cycle that every person (I'm looking at you, insomniacs-even you sleep sometimes) follows when they sleep. Let us take a closer look; shall we.
Definition of Sleep:
By definition, sleep is:
the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored
This "suspension of consciousness" does not just magically happen. There is a certain, set cycle that every person (I'm looking at you, insomniacs-even you sleep sometimes) follows when they sleep. Let us take a closer look; shall we.
The Sleep Cycle:
The first 4 stages are called non-rem (NREM) sleep.
Stage 1: While your eyes are closed, it is very easy for someone to wake you up during this stage. If you are awoken during this stage, it may seem as if you have not slept at all. This transition stage between wakefulness and deeper sleep is still part of the cycle, however. So next time mum wakes you up 10 minutes after you fall asleep, you can be comforted by the fact that you did actually sleep!
Stage 2: This is the stage known as "light sleep". During this stage, your body temperature begins to drop and your heart rate slows down. You become less aware of your surroundings, and your brain starts to produce something called brain spindles. Don't be alarmed, it's not anything to be concerned about. These spindles are merely rapid rhythmic brain waves. It is interesting to note that According to the American Sleep Foundation, people spend approximately 50 percent of their total sleep in this stage.
Stages 3 & 4: During recent studies, these two stages were combined, and far be it from me to fly in the face of scientific research. At any rate, these are collectively known as the deep sleep stages. During this stage, you are harder to wake up, and may feel slightly disoriented if woken up during deep sleep. Your muscles relax and your temperature and blood pressure drop. It is in this stage that the body begins to restore itself by repairing and growing tissue, building bones and muscles, and strengthening your immune system. Your brain produces deep, slow brain waves known as delta waves, thus these stages are often referred to as delta sleep. During this stage, you become far less responsive to the environment around you, and interestingly, sleepwalking is most likely to occur during deep sleep.
Stage 5: At last; the moment we've been waiting for!! You have now entered REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, and it is in this stage that dreaming occurs. During this stage, brain activity becomes more active, your respiration rate increases, your body becomes relaxed and immobilized, and your eyes move rapidly. This stage is also known as paradoxical sleep because while the brain and other body systems become more active, muscles become more relaxed. Studies show that while babies can spend up to 50% of their sleep time in REM, adults only spend about 20% of their time in this stage.
Now that we know exactly what sleep is and how we arrive at the dream state, let us talk briefly about the 5 most common types of dreams
Types of Dreams:.
Daydreams: When you daydream, you are caught in the space between awake and asleep. The daydream generally starts with a compelling fantasy, memory, or thought, and then your imagination can truly run wild. The longer you daydream, the more immersed you become in the dream itself. Recent studies show that the average person will dream anywhere from 70-120 minutes per day. When you daydream, the creative side of your brain becomes dominant, and the reality around you seems to fade away Daydreams can bring to light unconscious worries or bad memories, and allow you to sort through them safely. Daydreams can also be used to reinforce actions (like making a speech) that will result in a positive outcome. So the next time someone yells at you for daydreaming, you can tell them that you are not wasting time, you are merely "practicing creative reinforcement!
Normal Dreams: These are standard dreams, and yes, everyone has them. During normal dreams, the bizarre is accepted as reality. You could, for example, be doing a jig aboard a cruise ship, with a monkey playing the drums and a unicorn perched on your head. You would not find this out of the ordinary, until you woke up from the dream. Normal dreams may appear to be nonsensical, but they can offer insight into the subconscious, including repressed fears or your strongest desires. It is in the REM stage that normal dreaming occurs. Dreams are actually essential to your survival, and it could be possibly fatal to never have them at all. Longer and more vivid dreams occur nearer to the REM stage than at the beginning of it. And there is a scientific reason why some people do not remember their dreams. It seems that the part of the brain called the temporo-parietal junction is more spontaneously active in people who remember their dreams, as opposed to those who forget. So relax, you are not alone!
Lucid Dreams: These dreams are by far, the ones with the richest imagery. It is a dream in which you either know you are dreaming or can control the dream itself. Most people will wake themselves up when they realize that they are having a lucid dream, but there is also the choice to remain in the dream, becoming an active participant rather than just an observer. Outcomes and courses are directed by the dreamer, And while most will use lucid dreams to fulfill some sort of personal desire, they can also offer a unique glimpse into your own subconscious mind. At least half of all adults will experience at least one lucid dream in their lifetime. Lucid dreams are also a great venue to confront a fear or use it as a tool to perfect something (such as a tennis stroke or speech). The really neat thing is that brain activity during a lucid dream is the same as when you are performing the actual action itself, so in a way, your brain is already being conditioned toward a positive outcome. Sounds like the type of dream I sure want to have!
False Awakenings: This is a very vivid dream in which you imagine yourself going about your daily routine, and like with normal dreams, you have no idea that you are dreaming until after the dream is over and you have awoken. When you are caught in a false awakening, the dream usually begins in a bed (typically the bed in which you fell asleep), and then you proceed about your day. If you've ever seen Groundhog Day, then you have a good idea of what a false awakening is. If you haven't seen it; then it's definitely a movie I would strongly suggest. Yes, it is a bit dated, but still funny as can be. It should be noted that one is usually shocked out of a false awakening by noticing some obviously false detail, such as being on the way to work and noticing there is no other car on the road. Or perhaps, you look in the mirror and see yourself as another stage of life than your present one. Let me tell you, if I looked into the mirror and saw myself 20 years younger, it would sure startle me! Of course, if that happened I might NEVER want to wake up again.
Nightmares: Nightmares are more common in children than adults, although that is certainly not always the case. Believe me, as an adult, I have suffered more than my share of nightmares. A nightmare is a dream in which your subconscious mind processes everything as if it were really happening. Some nightmares are so "real" that they actually trigger the sensory system, actually causing you to feel pain. Nightmares are usually caused by sickness, stress, trauma, and drugs or alcohol. Nightmares are an indication of a fear that needs to be acknowledged and confronted in 'real time', not just the dream world. Now I'm certainly not saying that every nightmare should have you running to the psychiatrist's house, but I would definitely recommend paying attention to what they are trying to tell you. If eyes are the window to the soul, then dreams are the windows to the mind.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-101
https://www.verywell.com/the-four-stages-of-sleep-2795920
http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/types-of-dreams.html
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/luciddreams.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/remember-dreams-brain_n_4809360.html
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-101
https://www.verywell.com/the-four-stages-of-sleep-2795920
http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/types-of-dreams.html
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/luciddreams.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/remember-dreams-brain_n_4809360.html